Selection Guide
Pulse Meter Support
Integration support for meters with pulsed outputs — electric meters, natural gas meters, and water meters. Pulsed output data capture has traditionally been the primary data collection format provided by metering technologies prior to the wide adoption of open protocol data. When the meter is capable of providing consumption pulses, Emergent Metering can provide the needed hardware to count the output pulses, accumulate them over time, and trend this data in our cloud dashboard.
Why it matters
Many existing meters across facilities already have pulse output capabilities (KYZ, Form A, Form C, reed switch, open-collector) but are not connected to any data collection system. These stranded assets represent untapped energy intelligence. By integrating pulse counters with existing meters, facilities can gain time-based visibility into consumption without replacing existing metering infrastructure — dramatically reducing cost and deployment time while unlocking dashboarding, trending, and analytics.
Key selection factors
- Identify the pulse output type: KYZ (3-wire dry contact), Form A (2-wire), Form C (3-wire), reed switch, open-collector, or solid-state relay
- Determine the pulse factor or K-Factor — the scaled output value per pulse as defined by the meter manufacturer
- Verify pulse output wiring compatibility with the pulse accumulation device (voltage levels, contact type)
- Confirm whether the meter provides consumption-based pulses (energy/volume totals) or rate-based pulses (flow/demand)
- Assess communication path from pulse counter to cloud dashboard (wireless, Modbus, Ethernet, LoRaWAN)
- Consider multi-channel pulse counters if integrating multiple meters at a single location
Meter types
Electric Meter Pulse Integration
KYZ pulse outputs are the most common electrical output option from utility meters and utility-grade panel meters. Common manufacturers include Electro Industries (Shark 200/270), GE Vernova (EPM 5300, kV2c), Schneider Electric (PowerLogic PM8000/PM5000), Eaton (PXM350, IQ 35M), Accuenergy (Acuvim II), Siemens (SENTRON PAC3200/4200), and Honeywell E-Mon (Class 2000).
Natural Gas Meter Pulse Integration
Most natural gas meters are mechanical meters with rotational gears that track total flow and provide a reed switch, Wiegand, or LF/HF pulse output. Common manufacturers include Honeywell/Elster (AC-250, RABO), Dresser/ROOTS (B3, B4), Itron (METRIS 250), Sensus/Xylem (Sonix), Sage Metering, Sierra Instruments (QuadraTherm 640i), and Fox Thermal (FT2A/FT4A).
Water Meter Pulse Integration
Water meters with pulsed output include mechanical meters with rotational gears and ultrasonic meters with electronic pulse modules. Common manufacturers include Badger Meter (E-Series G2), Neptune (T-10, MACH 10), Sensus/Xylem (OMNI C2/F2), Master Meter (Octave), Kamstrup (flowIQ 3100), ONICON (F-1100/F-3500), and Seametrics (WMP/iMAG).
Installation guidelines
- Identify the existing meter's pulse output type (KYZ, Form A/C, reed, open-collector) and locate the terminal block or wiring points
- Record the pulse factor or K-Factor from the meter's nameplate or datasheet — this defines the volume or energy per pulse
- Wire the pulse output to the pulse counter/accumulator using shielded cable to minimize electrical noise
- Configure the pulse counter with the correct scaling factor to match the meter's K-Factor
- For KYZ outputs: connect K (common), Y, and Z wires — the counter will detect alternating contact closures
- Verify pulse counting by comparing accumulated totals against the meter's mechanical register over a known period
- Set up cloud dashboard integration via the pulse counter's communication protocol (wireless, Modbus, Ethernet, or LoRaWAN)
- Label all wiring, document the K-Factor and scaling configuration, and maintain as-built records
💡 Pro tip
Pulse data can be very accurate as long as the output format properly matches the pulse accumulation device. Always verify the K-Factor and test pulse counting accuracy before relying on dashboard data for billing or reporting.
Recommended approach
Map every existing pulse meter into the platform before adding new hardware — most sites already meter more than they realize. Match KYZ/Form A/C and reed switch outputs to multi-channel pulse counters with the right K-Factor scaling.
Ready to put energy data to work?
Order sensors, bridges, and PowerRadar subscriptions from our store — or talk to a CEM-certified engineer about your project.